In celebration of St. Francis of Assisi Lake Oconee Community Church will hold a Blessing of the Animals. Everyone is encouraged to bring their animal companions.

Lake Oconee Community Church (LOCC) will host a Community Blessing of the Animals service on Sunday, October 6. The Blessing of the Animals event begins at 10:30 at 1001 Village Park Drive at Lake Oconee Parkway, next to The Landing. Everyone in the lake area is invited to attend with their pets.

The tradition of an animal blessing honors St. Francis of Assisi, who lived in Italy in the 13th century and is the patron saint of animals and the environment. Faith communities the world over celebrate his feast day on or around October 4 with services of blessing of animals and of renewing the call to care for the creation. St. Francis conceived the idea in 1223 to have live animals participate in the nativity celebration inside the church at Christmas.

In past years animals of all sorts have come to LOCC for a blessing, including horses and even beloved stuffed animals. Those who attend are encouraged to bring donations of pet food with them. The food donations will be distributed to local humane societies and to Greene and Putnam county food distribution centers.

A special invitation goes out to veterinarians who will be honored during the Blessing of the Animals for the loving, caring work they do with pets and all animals.

For directions and more information see the LOCC website at locc.co.